Gloucester

Forces of nature formed Ravenswood’s landscape. Thousands of years ago ice chunks from melting glaciers created kettle ponds, bogs, and swamps. As a matter of fact, most of New England was buried under an enormous ice sheet that was more than a mile thick!

Certified Montessori teacher, artist and local mother, Colleen Apostolos-Marsh will guide your young artist in an exploration of color, shape, and texture. Using a variety of media, your child will be free to express their in a beautiful space while socializing and engaging in cooperative play.

Welcome to Annisquam Arts, an inspiring children’s summer studio! We're gearing up for our 21st season of art-making fun on scenic Cape Ann!

Young artists, ages 6-14, of all skill levels are welcome in our high-energy and imaginative morning and afternoon summer workshops. Participants will have a blast exploring a wide range of mediums, materials and techniques in the whimsical Gloucester studio of professional artist and teacher Dawn Southworth. The in-depth art experience is unrivaled by any other offerings on the North Shore. For nearly two decades, parents have been amazed by the quality of the materials and scope of the projects.

Small classes and individual instruction nurture all levels of ability. Our workshops are all about fun and exploration. No coloring in the lines here!

The Trustees of Reservations offer snowshoe rentals at the Cape Ann Discovery Center at Ravenswood Park (when there is enough snow) on Saturdays, Sundays, and Monday Holidays through the Winter months. Grab the family and get outdoors! Enjoy the wide open carriage paths during the winter wonderland. Warm up afterwards near our woodstove while enjoying hot chocolate. Adult and children’s sizes available. Snowshoes available on first come, first served basis.

Have you seen the barred owls, foxes, or red squirrels of Ravenswood Park? Come to our new Cape Ann Center for Learning & Discovery when these live animals visit, and get a close-up view of these creatures to learn about their habits and behaviors. Tonight we'll discover nocturnal animals, such as bats and foxes, that sleep during the day and are active at night – then we'll take a guided hike in the park to see if we can spot a few in their natural habitat.

From 1884 – 1917, Mason A. Walton lived a hermit's life in Ravenswood Park. As we walk in his footsteps to the site of his cabin, we'll track signs of wildlife just as Walton did, using these clues to determine the animal's behavior. Along the way we'll share tales from his book A Hermit's Wild Friends, only available used from Amazon: A Hermit's Wild Friends
or check it out from the Sawyer Free Library. This walk is outside, so dress for the weather.

The Open Door invites you to bowl painting session! Bring the kids to come paint bowls for the annual The Open Door Empty Bowl Dinner 2014 in May where painted bowls will be auctioned off to the highest bidder! This free session is an opportunity to express yourself artistically while helping The Open Door raise funds to aid North Shore families and individuals in need.

Kids are invited to Ravenswood Park to explore the wonder of snowflakes during this hands-on winter workshop. Attendees start inside to learn how to make ice crystal models and paper flakes and view the famous snowflake photographs of Wilson Bentley, who discovered that no two snowflakes are alike. Then, we'll get outside to explore the wintry landscape in person and catch some real snowflakes, if we're lucky!

Maritime Gloucester invites kids to a vacation week session about the unique properties of polar explorers and ice science - part of a week full of educational sessions during February vacation! What did explorers find on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions? What kinds of creatures have adapted to freezing temperatures? Students will learn all about ice through a variety of icy experiments, challenges, and projects. Using a variety of ice shapes, build an ice tower as high as you can. Paint a snowy scene with saltwater and watch crystals appear. Children are encouraged to stay afterwards (2:30-3:30) to watch The Blue Planet: Frozen Seas, a nature documentary about polar sea creatures.

Bring back the Bluebirds! Build Eastern bluebird nest boxes to add to our Coolidge Reservation’s Ocean Lawn or improve habitat by building a nest box you can take home with you for $20. These beautiful birds have been in decline due to a shortage of natural nesting cavities and competition from non-native species. By helping to build well-designed nesting boxes, you can encourage the return of these birds and improve biodiversity of our area.